OB CONSTRUCTION IFC Group 2
Naomh Comhghall 0-2 All Saints 4-21
Following defeat to St. Joseph’s Glenavy for both sides, this Group 2, Round 2 meeting of Naomh Comhghall and All Saints in Antrim on Friday evening was a must win for both teams but it the Ballymena men who made no mistake at the second time of asking when the Division 2 runners up proved much too strong for their Division 3 counterparts.
Naomh Comhghall flattered to deceive in the opening exchanges and might have taken the lead but a Dylan Murdock close range free sailed just wide of the upright. It took the visitors a time to adjust their sites but when Ryan Stewart pointed them ahead in the fifth minute they never looked back.
Benny McDonnell, Michael McCarry, Kavan Keenan and Sean McVeigh added points to leave them 0-5 to 0-0 ahead after 15 minutes and had they taken all their chances then the score would have been greater.
Naomh Comhghall then lost a player to a Red card as a bit of frustration began to creep into their play and a task that already looked difficult had suddenly become a lot harder.
The visitors continued to move the ball around with great precision and create space and Emmet Killough looked to be in for the game’s opening goal but his shot came back of the crossbar and was scrambled to safety.
It wasn’t long until the next score came however as Conor Stewart added two more and full-back, James McDonnell got forward for another. Peter McReynolds in his first game of the season, following a long lay-off due to injury, got his name on the score sheet and Conor Stewart and Benny McDonnell moved the Ballymena side 12 ahead by the 28th minute as they continued to dominate proceedings.
Naomh Comhghall were still battling hard against the odds but nothing seemed to be breaking in their favour but Dannan O’Hara finally got them off the mark when he pointed a 20 meter free in the final minute of the half to leave it 0-13 to 0-1 for the Slemish Park side at half time.
The second half was only seconds old when Peter McReynolds broke clear for All Saints but his shot at goal rebounded of the crossbar to safety and for a time the visitor’s wastefulness reappeared as they kicked several wides.
Naomh Comhghall were still giving it everything but they were dealt another blow when Aaron Murray was forced to retire following a collision with Sean McVeigh with John Brady coming in as his replacement.
It was visitors All Saints who continued to press but with no reward before Peter ‘Pizza’ McReynolds finally opened their second half account from a ‘65’ in the 10th minute and this score seemed to reignite their scoring.
Sean O’Callaghan got forward to finish to the net following great work from Paddy McAleer and before the home side could recover, Conor Stewart got in for a second with 13 minutes gone. Stewart fired home his second and his side’s third as the flood gates suddenly opened as the visitors began to empty their bench.
Michael McCarry and Kavan Keenan added points and the elusive Stewart completed his hat-trick in the 20th minute before Louis Higgins finally got some reward for his efforts on the night with a point at the other end.
It was well and truly over at this stage but All Saints finished as they had started, on the front foot and Eoghan Walsh and Michael McCarry added late points.
All Saints now await the outcome of tomorrow’s top of the table clash in Group 3 at Fr. Maginn Park where Glenravel play Davitt’s and the winners of that clash will play hosts to Baker Bradley’s side in the quarter-final of the championship and there is likely to be a few from ‘the town’ in Glenravel to run an eye over both potential opponents.
Naomh Comhghall: 1 Anthony Watson, 2 Dannan O’Hara, 3 Ryan McAuley, 4 Kian Walker, 5 Ruairi Griffin, 6 Dylan Murdock, 8 Oisin Crilly, 9 Michael McCabe, 10 Eoin Lynott, 11 James McCabe, 12 Niall Ward, 13 Aaron Murray, 14 Louis Higgins, 15 Peter McAuley, 17 Kian Devine. Subs: Colm Logue, John Brady
All Saints: 1 Niall Shannon, 2 Shaun O’Callaghan, 3 James McDonnell, 4 James Gillan. 5 Ciaran McGarry, 6 Paddy McAleer, 7 Kavan Gillan, 8 Sean McVeigh, 9 Emmet Killough, 10 Conor Stewart, 11, Brendan McDonnell, 12 Michael McCarry, 13 Ciaran Campbell, 14 Peter McReynolds, 15 Shea O’Brien. Subs used: Ronan McKillop, Owen Walsh, Eoghan Campbell, Joe Rafferty
Referee: Fionntan McCotter (Sarsfields)
